Sam Fender is among the artists performing at this year’s BRIT Awards – but away from the stage, he’s opened up on his ‘heartbreaking’ health struggles.
Since releasing his debut album in 2019, Sam has become one of the UK’s biggest artists thanks to songs including Hypersonic Missiles and Seventeen Going Under. During his six years in the spotlight, the 30-year-old has released two UK number one albums, secured three UK top 10 singles and has won two BRIT Awards, including the Critics' Choice Award and Best Rock/Alternative Act.
His latest album, People Watching, was released earlier this month, though two months ahead of its release Sam headed on his People Watching tour at the end of last year. However, after heading to cities including Leeds and Manchester, the Getting Started singer was forced to cancel shows in Glasgow as well as his home city of Newcastle after haemorrhaging his right vocal cord.
“Glasgow and Newcastle, as most of you know I've had the flu for a few days now. Regardless of how compromised my voice was I did everything I could to get it in working order last night to put on the best show possible,” he wrote on X.
“Today I have had an ENT scope/camera down my throat and sadly I've haemorrhaged my right vocal chord, I'm absolutely heartbroken. This has been the best tour so far and all I want to do is get up and sing again for you all tonight.”
He added: “I've had two separate ENT doctors say if I perform tonight I'm risking lasting damage to my voice and I've been advised to be on vocal rest and not use my voice for a prolonged length of time until it heals.
“I've done everything by the book this tour living like a monk, it's so unlucky. I'm so so sorry to all of you who are on your way tonight. We're trying to figure out a way to reschedule for you all, more news soon x.”
Throughout his career, Sam has opened up about his health and has never shied away from the topic of mental health. In 2018, the singer-songwriter released the single Dead Boys, which features the lyrics: “Nobody ever could explain all the dead boys in our hometown.”
Speaking to NME in 2018 about the poignant meaning behind the song, Sam explained: “I lost some friends very close to me because of that. This song came from that place, and I have been playing it to other people ever since.
“It's raised a conversation and I realised how much of a present issue it is. Everybody that I spoke to from all different parts of the country have all got a connection to someone they've lost.”
Three years later, the song Dying Light featured on his second album Seventeen Going Under. Described as being a sequel to Dead Boys, the song’s last line hears Sam sing: “for all the ones who didn’t make the night”.
Discussing it with NME in 2021, he said: “It’s very Springsteen. It’s my ‘Jungleland’ or ‘Thunder Road’ – it’s got that ‘Born To Run’ feel; there’s strings and brass [and] it’s f*****g massive. It’s a celebration. It’s a triumph over adversity.”
In September 2022, Sam cancelled several performances after suffering “burnout” while on tour. At the time of the announcement, the musician said it would have been "hypocritical" to continue working while not looking after himself.
“It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don’t take time to look after my own mental health. I've neglected myself for over a year now and haven't dealt with things that have deeply affected me,” a statement released at the time read.
“It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it's not going to get better unless I take the time to do so.”
The Spit Of You singer has also used his platform to raise awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and has previously described it as being “like a superpower”.
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